In accordance
with 14 CFR
Section 91.180,
domestic RVSM
airspace (FL
290-410) is
exclusionary
airspace. With
only limited
exceptions, all
operators and
individual
aircraft must
have received
RVSM
authorization
from the Federal
Aviation
Administration
(FAA) to operate
at RVSM
altitudes. If an
aircraft or its
operator has not
been authorized
for RVSM
operation, the
aircraft is
referred to as a
“non-RVSM”
aircraft.
Excepted
non-RVSM
aircraft are
granted access
to RVSM
altitudes on a
workload
permitting
basis. Priority
in RVSM airspace
is afforded to
RVSM compliant
flights, then
file-and-fly
flights.

17-22-3. DEFINITIONS

a. File-and-Fly. Operators
of excepted
non-RVSM flights
requesting
access to or
through RVSM
airspace will
file a flight
plan. This
flight plan
serves as the
notification to
the FAA of the
operator's
intent to
request access
to or through
RVSM airspace.

b. STORM
Flight. A
non-RVSM
exception
designated by
the Department
of Defense (DOD)
for special
consideration
via the DOD
Priority Mission
website.

c. Entry
Facility. Facility
where an
aircraft
penetrates RVSM
airspace
designated for
U.S. air traffic
control.

Under the
authority
granted in 14
CFR
Section 91.180,
the
Administrator
has determined
that the
following groups
of non-RVSM
aircraft may
enter RVSM
airspace subject
to FAA approval
and clearance:

a. Department
of Defense
aircraft;

b. Foreign
State
(government)
aircraft;

c. Active
air ambulance
utilizing
MEDEVAC
call sign;

d. Flights
conducted for
aircraft
certification
and development
flights for
RVSM.

17-22-5. OPERATOR
ACCESS OPTIONS

Operators of
excepted
non-RVSM
aircraft
requesting
access to DRVSM
airspace have
the following
options
available to
them:

a. Letter
of
Agreement/Memorandum
of Understanding
(LOA/MOU). Comply
with a LOA/MOU
for operations
within a single
or adjacent RVSM
facility.

b. File-and-Fly. File
a flight plan
and make the
initial request
to access RVSM
airspace by
requesting an
ATC clearance.

NOTE-
Non-RVSM
aircraft not
listed under
excepted flights
may
climb/descend
through RVSM
airspace without
leveling off,
subject to FAA
approval and
clearance.

c. DOD. Enter
STORM flights on
the DOD Priority
Mission website.
For STORM
flights that are
within 60
minutes of
departure notify
the departure
RVSM facility
via telephone,
in addition to
entering the
flight into the
DOD Priority
Mission website.

NOTE-
Special
consideration
will be afforded
a STORM flight;
however,
accommodation of
any non-RVSM
exception flight
is workload
permitting.

17-22-6. DUTIES
AND
RESPONSIBILITIES

Traffic
Management Units
(TMU) in
facilities with
RVSM airspace
must:

a. Monitor,
assess, and act
on the
information in
the Traffic
Situation
Display (TSD) to
evaluate the
facility's
ability to
manage non-RVSM
aircraft;

b. Coordinate
calls from DOD
operators of
STORM flights
that will depart
within 60
minutes, with
the appropriate
area
supervisor/controller-in-charge.
Obtain and
coordinate the
following
information:

1. Call
sign.

2. Origination
point.

3. Proposed
departure time.

4. Number
of aircraft in
formation, when
applicable.

c. For
a non-RVSM
exception flight
inbound to the
U.S., the TMU at
the entry
facility
receives the
request for
access to RVSM
airspace
directly from an
international
point of contact
(POC). The TMU
must coordinate
the information
received from
the
international
POC with the
appropriate
operational
supervisor/controller-in-charge
in a timely
manner.